The encounter happened in 2012. While it's been a year, the memory is still fresh, as if it just happened yesterday.

To most people, it was a normal day in the office, but to me, it was something special—that I just had to skip work.

Days before that though, there had been contests online where the prizes are the same: the chance to meet Rey in person. I joined all of them, but I wasn't even close to winning. I thought it wasn't fated to happen.

But like they say, "If there's a will, there's a way."

It was a Friday when the first meet-and-greet sponsored by AKTV took place at Farmers' Plaza in Cubao. I asked permission to leave work early that day after I was sure that I'd completed all my tasks. I brought with me two customized paper masks I made days before.

The program was about to start, but the seats were still unoccupied, and we couldn't have that. So the two hosts had to hold a mini-contest to fill the seats; I was lucky enough to be spotted thanks to my mask.

I don't remember what he asked me, though.

After I got the host's question right, I got a spot in the best place on earth that time. Then, more mini-games, and the seats were full in no time. It only meant one thing: it was time to call Rey out.

You can only imagine the ovation he received. As soon as he came out from backstage, the people started chanting "619", the area code of his hometown in San Diego, also the name of his tiger feint kick move. You can tell that the crowd loves him.

One of the things asked to him during his interview was if he had ever tasted any Filipino food that he liked (you know, Pinoy Pride fuel and stuff). When Rey couldn't think of anything to answer, one of the hosts asked, "How about adobo?" To which Rey asked, "What's adobo?"

The hosts couldn't explain to him what kind of food adobo is, that they had to ask a member of the audience to explain it to him.

Again, it was my time to shine.

They called me up on stage to tell Rey what adobo looks and tastes like, and how it's cooked. I may be good in writing in English, but I'm in no way better at speaking it; I struggled to compose my sentences, but I know he got the gist of it. And then, the applause for my brave effort.

And this picture, of course.

More interview questions later, and then it was time for the autograph signing. Before I could get in line, however, the correspondent from AKTV asked me if he could interview me for a moment. I obliged, knowing that it was my fifteen seconds of fame. I don't know what happened to the interview, though, because I didn't see it on TV.

Then came my turn to have my stuff signed by Rey. It's humbling that even though my masks weren't authentic but handmade instead, he still signed them for me.

While Rey was signing my first mask, I asked him when he was going to try adobo. Rey replied, "I'll try it tomorrow," and after finishing signing the second one, he said, "Wait, how about tonight?"

I've got three words for Rey Mysterio: Full of class.

The fact alone that I got the chance not only to meet Rey, but also talk to him, will always be something that I consider a priceless treasure. I'm proud that I found the guts to do what I did.